Sheet clamping and unclamping mechanism



Aug. 20, 1963 E. v. CANAMERO 3,101,234

SHEET CLAMPING AND UNCLAMPING MECHANISM Filed April 3, 1962 INVENTOR, ERNEST V. CA AMERO ATTORNEY.

United States, Pa i 3,101,234 7 simET (ILAMPING AND UNCLAMPING MEcnANrsM Ernest V. Canamero, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to the This invention relates in general, to a novel sheet clamp ing and unclamping mechanism for the drum of a machinev of the rotary drum kind, and in particular, to a novel sheet clamping and unclaming mechanism for the drum a facsimile machine of the rotary drum kind. A principal object of the invention is to provide a facsimile machine of the rotary drum kind, having novel sheet clamping and unclamping mechanisms whereby the mounting of copy sheet on the drum and the removal of copy sheet from the drum can be effected expeditiously and positively with a minimum of manual manipulation. A further object relates to the provision of a simplified paper clamping arrangement of relatively light weight for use with a rotating carrier such as the rotating drum of a facsimile machine; and the provision of means to stop said drum at a predetermined position. In general, the invention may besaid to include 11h combination of a drum rotatable about an axialshaft, and

' means for facilitating the mounting of copy sheet on the drum and the removal of copy sheet from the drum. These facilitatingmeans include means Within the drum and radially spaced from the axial shaft of the drum for supporting a longitudinal shaft in parallel alignment with the axial drum shaft. Paper clamping means are affixed' to and spaced along the longitudinal shaft and adapted to protrude through openings in the periphery of the drum provided therefor. Also includedis an actuator arm 7 afiixed to one end of the longitudinal shaft and rotatable therewith, and a tensioning means operatively associated with the actuator arm for the purpose of maintaining the longitudinal shaft in a position such that the copy sheet will be clamped to the periphery of the drum when the drum is rotatingo Included further is a radially slotted annulus which terminates the drum and is axially spaced from both the supporting means for the longitudinal shaft and the actuator arm, with the slot disposed opposite the actuator arm.

In operative association with the aforementioned components, the above mentioned facilitating means further include a drum motor switch, a pivotally mounted pawl having an elongated section terminating in a protruding low pillar coaxially mounted with the drum shaft but adapted to be rotated independently thereof. A first and second protruding lug are circumferentially spaced on the periphery of the annular switch ring, and tension section of the pawl terminating in the protruding longitudinal member is free of the inner surface of the annulus; the pawl and protruding longitudinal member then being locked by the tension means against pivotal rotation while the drum is rotating. When the switch ring is in a second position, the first lug deactivates the drum motor switch. Simultaneously, the second lug slides along the surface of 3,101,234 Patented Aug. 20, 1963 ice the pawl-and contacts the elongated section thereof having a protruding longitudinal member to maintain that end of the pawl in contact with the inner surface of the annulus. The longitudinal protruding member then engages in the slot of the annulus locking the drum, and by further rotation actuates the actuator arm through the radial slot in the annulus and rotatably displaces the actuator arm from its normally tensioned position to rotate the longitudinal shaft so that the paper clamping means are in the open or unclamped position.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects thereof reference is made to the following description taken in connection with and ing in detail the longitudinal shaft on which are positioned the paper clamping fingers for securing the copy sheet.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing, the cylindrical drum 10 is provided with a centrally positioned coaxial shaft 11 which is rotatably driven by well known conventional means. A spacer 12 is affixed to the shaft 11 with the periphery of the spacer attached .to the inner surface of the drum 10 and rotatable therewith. The spacer is provided with a peripheral gap 14 covered by the plate 13 which is provided with a bearing 15 aligned with the gap and through which is inserted the longitudinal shaft 16 extending the length of the drum. The shaft 16 is terminated at one end by an L-shaped actuator arm 17 which is aflixed thereto and is rotatable therewith. A tension means in the form of a tension spring 18, one end of which is anchored to the plate 13, maintains the L- shaped actuator arm 17 in a normally downward position.

The end of drum 10 proximal actuator arm 17 is terminated by an annulus 19 provided with a radial slot 20* and which is affixed to the end of the drum 10 so as to be rotatable therewith. As shown, the radially slotted annulus 19 is axially spaced. from the spacer 12, the plate 13, and the arm 17 so that when it rotates with the drum no interference between the radially slotted'annulus 19 and arm longitudinal member and a cam shaped surface, and an annular switch ring which is rotatably mounted on a hol- .17 is possible. The purpose of slot 20 will hereinafter become apparent. Mounted on longitudinal shaft 16 are a series of axially spaced resilient metallic clamping fingers '36 which extend out through the openings 37 inthe drum. 10 provided across the width thereof. Fingers 36 are in the clamped or closed position when L-shaped arm 17 is in its normally tensioned position, and in the unclamped oropen position when the arm 17 is rotatably actuated as will be explained herein below.

At 21, there is shown a leverarm which is terminated at one end in an annular switch ring 22 having its inner surface mounted on shaft 11 by means of a bearing 23 which is journaled thereto. As shown, switch ring 22 terminates shaft 11 and is axially spaced from the radially slotted annulus 19. The annular switch ring 22 is provided with a pair of protruding lugs 24 and 25 circumferentially spaced'on the periphery of the annular switch ring 22. By this arrangement, the swtich ring 22 with its circumferentially spaced lugs 24 and 25 may be rotated independently of the rotating shaft 11 by actuating the free end of lever arm 21. V

A rigidly supported bracket 26 is provided with an ear 27 on which a pawl 28 is pivotally mounted about pivot 29 and axially spacedfrom the end of the drum. The pawl 28 is provided with an elongated end section associated sheet clamping and unclamping mechanisms; I

FIG. 4 is an isometric view, partially in section, show a now made to FIG. 2 and-FIG. 3.

3t) terminating in" a protruding longitudinal member or of the pawl 28. The elongated end section 30 can fit into slot 20 of the radially"slotted annulus 19 and contact the edge of the slot. Pin end 31a is made long enough to extend through slot 2! of the radially slotted annulus l9 and to contact the L-shaped actuator arm 17 as will be described below. Pin end 31b is tensionally supported by the free end 32a of a leaf spring 32, the other end of the leaf spring 32 being anchored or affixed to the under surface of the support bracket 26. The curved operative contact surface of pawl 28 is provided at either end with notches 33a and 33b adapted respectively to receive a locking pin 34 which extends outwardly from 'lug 25. When locking pin 34 is in neither of the notches, it is adapted to ride along the operative contact surface of pawl 28 until engaged by one or the other of the notches as explained hereinbelow.

A motor sWitch'SS is positioned; in the rotational path of switch lug 24 so that the motor switch arm'SS'a is actu ated by lug 24. j In describing the operation of the system, reference is In FIG. 2 of the drawing, lever arm 21 has been moved clockwise to a posi- 'tion such that-locking pin 34 engages notch 33b and simultaneously lug 24 contacts and thereby activates motor switch arm 35a. The positioning of locking pin 34 in notch. 33b causes the "elongated end-section 3d of pawl 28 to pivot downward and belocked against pivotal roitation by the tension exerted on it by the leaf spring 32' while the'dru'm 10 is rotating. With lever arm 21 in the position as shown, the longated end section 34 containing pin 31 is free of the slot 24) and does not interfere with the rotation of the drum 10', and with pin 31 free from slot 20, L-shaped actuator arm 17 is in its normally 'tensioned position; As hereinabove described, with arm 17 in its normally tensioned position the fingers 36, which are mounted on the shaft 16, are closed or clamped thereby securing copy sheet 38 to the cylindrical drum 10. The trailing end of the copy sheet is not clamped,

since the sheets may vary in length. Various arrangements can be employed. to restrain the loose end of the sheet and hold the same against the surface of the cylindrical drumadjacent an optical scanner. The drum 10 continues to rotate until the copy sheet has been completely scanned. Then, the lever arm 21 is moved counterclockwise to stopthe rotationof the drum as can be seen more clearly by referring to FIG. 3; As shownin FIG. 3, moving lever arm 21 counterclockwise causes locking pin 34 to slide along the curved surface of pawl .28 until it engages notch 33a, and simultaneously causes lug 24 to be removed from motor switch arm a thereby deactivating the driving'motor. The elongated end section 30 of pawl 28 is now caused to be pivoted upward thereby causing it to engage the left-hand edge of ous changes and modifications may be made therein 'without departing from'the invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a facsimile machine of the rotary drum kind, the combination of a drum rotatable about an axial shaft;

means for facilitating the mounting of copysheet on said drum and for removing, of copy sheet from said drum comprising; means within saidfdrum and radially spaced from said axial shaft forsupporting a longitudinalshaft in parallel alignment with said axial drum shaft, paper clamping means affixed to and spaced along said longitudinal shaft and adapted to protrude through openings in the periphery of said drum provided therefor, an actuator arm afiixed to one end of saidflongitudinal' shaft and rotatable therewith, a first tension means operatively, associated with said actuator arm for maintaining said longitudinal shaft in position such that said copy sheet is clamped to the periphery of said drum when said drum is rotating, an annulus including a radial slot terminating said drum, and axially spaced from said longitudinal shaft supporting means and said actuator arm, said slot being disposed opposite said actuator arm, a drum motor switch,

truding longitudinal member to lock said pawl and protrading longitudinal member against pivotal rotation while said drum is rotating; a switch actuating means coaxial withsaid drum shaft and including peripheral extending means for simultaneously actuating the other end of saidpawl and energizing said switch such thatsaid pawl and ,protrud-ing longitudinalmember is free of said slot and said motor switch is ON when said switch actuating means is in one position, said pawl and protruding longitudinal member then being locked by said second tension means:-' against pivotal movement while said drum is rotating and said actuator arm being maintained by said first-ten,-

slot 29 and lock cylindrical drum 19 against further ro- .tation. Pin end 31a then contacts and pushes up against actuator arm 17, which in turn, causes the rotation of longitudinal shaft 16 to open clamping fingers 36 so that the scanned copy sheet or recorded copy on recorder can be removed.

To operate the system again, one merely inserts a new copy sheet to be scanned underthe open clamping fingers 36 and then moves the lever arm 21 clockwise to the position as shown in FIG. 2.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be-the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that varisioned means in position such that the paper clamping means are in a clampedoncloserd posit-ionyand simultaneously actuating said elongated end section of said pawl such that said elongated end section is in contact with said radial slot and said motor switch is OFF when said switch actuating'means is in a second position, and said second longitudinal protruding member then actuates said actuator arm through said radial slot whereby said drum is lockedv against rotation and said actuator arm is rotatably displaced from its normal tensioned po=sition to rotate said longitudinal shaft so thatsaid paper clamping means are in the open or unclamped position. i

2. A facsimile machineacconding to claim 1 wherein the switch actuating means coaxial with the drum shaft is an annular switch ring rotatably mounted on the drum shaft and adapted to be rotatably positioned independently thereof.

3. A facsimile machine according to claim 1 wherein the peripheral extending means is a first and second pro the periphery of truding lug circumferentially spaced on the annular switch ring.

2 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,174 Levin July l4,--3

as fall within the true spirit and scope 

1. IN A FACSIMILE MACHINE OF THE ROTARY DRUM KIND, THE COMBINATION OF A DRUM ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIAL SHAFT; MEANS FOR FACILITATING THE MOUNTING OF COPY SHEET ON SAID DRUM AND FOR REMOVING OF COPY SHEET FROM SAID COPY COMPRISING; MEANS WITHIN SAID DRUM AND RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID AXIAL SHAFT FOR SUPPORTING A LONGITUDINAL SHAFT IN PARALLEL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID AXIAL DRUM SHAFT, PAPER CLAMPING MEANS AFFIXED TO AND SPACED ALONG SAID LONGITUDINAL SHAFT AND ADAPTED TO PROTRUDE THROUGH OPENINGS IN THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM PROVIDED THEREFOR, AN ACTUATOR ARM AFFIXED TO ONE END OF SAID LONGITUDINAL SHAFT AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, A FIRST TENSION MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ACTUATOR ARM FOR MAINTAINING SAID LONGITUDINAL SHAFT IN POSITION SUCH THAT SAID COPY SHEET IS CLAMPED TO THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM WHEN SAID DRUM IS ROTATING, AN ANNULUS INCLUDING A RADIAL SLOT TERMINATING SAID DRUM AND AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAID LONGITUDINAL SHAFT SUPPORTING MEANS AND SAID ACTUATOR ARM, SAID SLOT BEING DISPOSED OPPOSITE SAID ACTUATOR ARM, A DRUM MOTOR SWITCH, A PAWL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE PERIMETER OF SAID ANNULUS BUT AXIALLY SPACED THEREFROM, SAID PAWL HAVING AN ELONGATED END SECTION WITHIN SAID PERIMETER TERMINATING IN A PROTRUDING LONGITUDINAL MEMBER; A SECOND TENSION MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PAWL AND PROTRUDING LONGITUDINAL MEMBER TO LOCK SAID PAWL AND PROTRUDING LONGITUDINAL MEMBER AGAINST PIVOITAL ROTATION WHILE SAID DRUM IS ROTATING; A SWITCH ACTUATING MEANS COAXIAL WITH SAID DRUM SHAFT AND INCLUDING PERIPHERAL EXTENSION MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTUATING THE OTHER END OF SAID PAWL AND ENERGIZING SAID SWITCH SUCH THAT SAID PAWL AND PROTRUDING LONGITUDINAL MEMBER IS FREE OF SAID SLOT AND SAID MOTOR SWITCH IS ON WHEN SAID SWITCH ACTUATING MEANS IS IN ONE POSITION, SAID PAWL AND PROTRUDING LONGITUDINAL MEMBER THEN BEING LOCKED BY SAID SECOND TENSION MEANS AGAINST PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WHILE SAID DRUM IS ROTATING AND SAID ACTUATOR ARM BEING MAINTAINED BY SAID FIRST TENSIONED MEANS IN POSITION SUCH THAT THE PAPER CLAMPING MEANS ARE IN A CLAMPED OR CLOSED POSITION, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTUATING SAID ELONGATED END SECTION OF SAID PAWL SUCH THAT SAID ELONGATED END SECTION IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID RADIAL SLOT AND SAID MOTOR SWITCH IS OFF WHEN SAID SWITCH ACTUATING MEANS IS IN A SECOND POSITION, AND SAID SECOND LONGITUDINAL PROTRUDING MEMBER THEN ACTUATES SAID ACTUATOR ARM THROUGH SAID RADIAL SLOT WHEREBY SAID DRUM IS LOCKED AGAINST ROTATION AND SAID ACTUATOR ARM IS ROTATABLY DISPLACED FROM ITS NORMAL TENSIONED POSITION TO ROTATE SAID LONGITUDINAL SHAFT SO THAT SAID PAPER CLAMPING MEANS ARE IN THE OPEN OR UNCLAMPED POSITION. 